EEA reveals enormous cost of industrial air pollution

A report from the European Environment Agency has revealed that industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 bn in 2009, approximately €330 for every European citizen.

The analysis builds on existing policy tools and methods to calculate a range of estimated costs arising from damage to human health and the environment. It covers nearly 10 000 facilities across Europe operating in a number of different sectors, including large power plants, refineries, manufacturing combustion and industrial processes, waste and certain agricultural activities.

The findings show that three quarters of the total damage costs were caused by only 622 facilities – 6 % of the total number. Power plants contributed the largest share (estimated at €66–112 bn), with production processes (€23–28 bn) and manufacturing combustion (€8–21 bn) also making significant contributions.

Countries such as Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, France and Italy contribute the most to the total damage costs. When costs are considered in relation to national productivity, however, countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic are more important.

CO2 emissions contribute the most, approximately €63 bn in 2009. Air pollutants (including sulphur dioxide, ammonia, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides) which contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory problems were estimated to cause €38-105 bn of damage a year.

The report can be downloaded here.